'We're a joke': Life in the nation's most gerrymandered district

PENNSBURY TOWNSHIP — The boundaries of Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District are so convoluted they befuddle even the office of its congressman.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan still sends mailers to residents of Kendal-Crosslands despite the fact that the Quaker-run retirement community was carved out of Meehan’s district — literally, in the shape of a dagger — and is represented by Lloyd Smucker, who lives an hour away in Lancaster County.

Bonnie Marcus

Seniors are usually political catnip — reliable voters with free time and disposable income — but Kendal-Crosslands residents say their Republican lawmakers ignore their overtures. Quakers, it turns out, tend to vote Democratic and the community is home to more liberals than conservatives. When it came time to redraw district lines in 2011, its roughly 900 residents were punted from one district into another in order to spread out the Democratic vote across southeast Pennsylvania.

“Have you seen what we look like? We’re a joke,” said Bonnie Marcus, a Democratic poll worker who gathered a group of neighbors at the community center to talk gerrymandering.

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Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional district sprawls across portions of five different counties. Its cartoonish shape has made it the poster child for gerrymandering nationwide.

“I don’t think there’s a way they can make it worse,” Bill Van Wie chimed in.

“Of course they can,” Marcus said, setting off a volley of laughter around the patio table.

“Well,” Van Wie said, sheepishly, “that’s not an invitation.”

Pennsylvania’s 7th has become the poster child for gerrymandering nationwide. When the lines were first announced, the ever-cheeky state Sen. Andy Dinniman held a contest to christen the new district. Dozens of constituents responded, suggesting names to describe its strange shape, and his office chose “Bullwinkle J. Moose.” Since then, another cartoon-inspired description — “Goofy kicking Donald Duck,” coined by author David Daley — gained traction.

“I just think it’s crazy; there’s no other name for it,” said Val Arkoosh, who chairs the powerful Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.

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When Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh comes across an issue requiring congressional attention, her staff has to coordinate with five separate offices on Capitol Hill.